forces from afghanistan. i speak today as the daughter of a lieutenant colonel who fought in several wars, one who knows the trauma and devastation of wars on families. i want to be clear that our service men and women have performed with incredible courage and commitment in afghanistan. they're doing everything we ask them to do. but the truth is, they have been put in an impossible position. they are fighting in a way with no military solution an no end in sight. only a political and diplomatic solution and a regional stabilization strategy will end this war. in fact, this concern of war without end is why i oppose the resolution authorizing military force on september 14, 2001. it began a series of of blank checks that we have been writing for nearly a decade there. there are few things we know with certainty regarding the situation of afghanistan. we know that corruption persists unabated and in many cases has been fueled by the u.s. occupation and influx of foreign cash. president karzai has proven himse